Startup Investors Grow More Optimistic, Yet Worry About the Scarcity of Quality Projects
The Czech startup landscape stands a significant chance of strengthening this year, as investments in technology companies are expected to increase markedly following a leaner last year. Fund general partners are particularly keen, with a third of them planning to invest substantially more. They are concerned, however, about securing sufficient capital from private investors. Although the vast majority intend to continue their investment activities, nearly 30 percent plan to do so at a reduced level compared to last year. These findings emerge from a survey conducted by the investment group DEPO Ventures, which is constructing an international syndicate of angel investors in addition to managing angel funds. The survey's strategic partners include the law firm Mavericks, the CzechInvest agency, and the Czech Business Angel Association (CBAA).
European startups got less money this year,but the sentiment is improving. Target: AI & climate tech
Petr Šíma: Forget about the United States, Europe has already overtaken it in the number of new startups. Moreover, it is the only region where the volume of capital invested in startups this year will be higher than in 2020, by 18 percent. Let's leave aside 2021 and early 2022, when startup valuations skyrocketed and investors bought whatever they could. That was an anomaly. This year, $45 billion will flow into European startups, according to a fresh analysis by Atomico. This is the third highest figure after the two years mentioned above and confirms that the ecosystem is on a strong footing.
Why investing in startups could be the key to success during an economic downturn
During market downturns, the best investment opportunities arise. This applies to both stocks and investing in technological startups. In times of crisis and high inflation, leaving money lying in accounts is not advisable. Those who start investing now will have greater profits in the future.
What do the results of the survey say about Business Angels in the Czech Republic?
Although angel investing is not yet widespread in the Czech Republic, Czechs are still among the most skilled investors in startups. Their strategies have generally been successful so far. Almost nine out of ten investors were able to make a profit on their investment, with nearly 12% making more than ten times their investment. Two-fifths of investors consider investing in startups more profitable than other forms of investment. These are the findings of a survey conducted by investment group DEPO Ventures, which is building a unique syndicate of angel investors in addition to angel funds. The survey was also conducted in partnership with the law firm Havel & Partners and the agency CzechInvest. The aim of this fourth annual survey was to map the environment of angel investing in the Czech Republic.
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How to structuralize your pitch deck
One of the main aspects of pitch decks to consider is their overall structure. A deck can thrive or fail spectacularly based on the amount of clarity and information conciseness you provide. Here are two possible standard, nevertheless, effective ways to structure your pitch deck in order to raise the probability of successful investment.
Types of pitches - and how to make them work
If you’re reading this article, the chance is you aim to create a solid pitch deck, but you are not exactly sure how to tackle it. Different types of pitches differ primarily in their length, therefore also structurally and content-wise. There are three main categories of pitch based on these criteria - elevator pitch, investment teaser, and a full investor pitch.
Why is it important to have a great pitch deck?
There are several things to mention while considering why making an impactful pitch deck is absolutely crucial. Everyone knows that a good presentation of any kind is just as important as your main points within the argumentation. In this case, you are probably not only selling your concept, but more importantly, you are selling the potential of yourself as well as your team. In the end, there is no right or wrong within the structure, however, because the final decision based on your pitch is reduced to either investment or no investment, a pitch can be effective or not. This either/or situation can be of course quite intimidating because even if the pitch is good, but not great, there is a significant possibility that investors simply will not be interested in an idea that does not seem rock solid. This is then perhaps the most important argument for the necessity of a superb pitch deck.
Looking back at the Engaged Investments Conference 2022
During this year’s Engaged Investments Conference organized by DEPO Ventures, we welcomed a number of speakers primarily from the CEE and the Baltic regions. They all talked about the current state of investments, as well as what the future of the venture capital ecosystem might bring. Among the main topics discussed this year was the need for cooperation between VCs and angel investors, as well as the potential prospects of cross-border investments. We hope, that after a full day of exciting debates combined with networking, everyone who attended may have come home a bit wiser than they were before.
Cross-border investment – considering the big picture
The VC industry has recently experienced a spike in international growth. In our ever-so-expanding globalized world, is it a good idea to get in on the trend, or just simply stick to domestic investments? This is a question many VC investors have been asking themselves over the past years. However, the answer, like most answers, is not a simple yes or no. In this article, we at DEPO Ventures aim to consider the main aspects of cross-border investments and perhaps shed some light on the industry itself, mainly utilizing information from academic sources.